The Interstate Valkyrie Has The Soul Of A Hot Rod While Retaining Some Of The Comfort Of The Gold Wi

The designers stripped off everything but the motor and two wheels, gave the old six-banger more midrange power and wrapped up the entire package with a liberal amount of chrome. Honda then went back to the boards to see how a tourer would fare with a simple windshield and some hard saddlebags bolted on. Now Honda has come almost full circle by adding a full fairing, radio, and touring trunk. Add a pinch of '50s retro style, and you've got the Valkyrie Interstate.

The black bodywork, with chrome engine accents, gives the bike a Darth Honda look. Twist that throttle to unleash the 107 horsepower and you'll feel the power of a different kind of force. Enjoy, as the engine winds up in a nuclear power plant turbine sort of way.

Honda took its venerable, reliable, horizontally opposed flat six-cylinder motor, found in the Gold Wing, and basically hot-rodded it. Among other things, Honda added high performance cams and gave each cylinder a carburetor - as opposed to the Wing's two. A freer flowing exhaust system rounds out the engine modifications. The results are a silky smooth six-cylinder motor delivering great acceleration.

The engine is exceptional at powering around large, seemingly immobile, semis and RVs.

At 29.2 mpg, those six carbs suck down Exxon's finest with a thirsty vengeance not seen since a college keg party. Luckily, there's almost 7 gallons of the stuff, which brought me to reserve after around 150 miles.

Handling is pretty much what one expects from a full bagger.

Slow speed hairpins aren't much fun, but a long 5.1 and 4.7 inch suspension swallows up potholes.

The windshield, fairing and radiator side covers work well together to protect your average sized rider from the elements.

The Valkyrie Interstate media guide says those radiator side covers are computer-designed and wind tunnel-tested to route hot engine air away from the rider, yet allow outside air in through adjustable vents. After a long, hot ride on the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, I've got to believe it. I never felt any engine heat.

The windshield uses a similar duct to direct air under and up behind the shield. Honda says it minimizes low-pressure turbulence between the fairing and rider. It lets in what sounds like a gale force coming through the duct. But the best aspect to this vent seems to be that it dried the windshield quicker, on the inside, after a rain shower.

This is one big hunk of machinery, and because of engine design and placement, legroom suffers, just as it does on the Gold Wing. Except on the Valk, the engine guards allow a pair of aftermarket highway pegs to be bolted on, giving you the much needed room to stretch out.